In February I started sending a series of letters to friends, in the hopes of persuading them to vote Bush & Co. out of office this Nov. The letters are aimed at Independents and moderate Republicans, though I am finding out the Libertarians would agree with most of them. This blog is an attempt to reach a larger audience. If you agree with the goal, tell your friends to visit.

Tuesday, July 06, 2004

America Deserves Better # 21

Dear Friends,

The following speaks for itself. For the source go to http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0616-07.htm . See also http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Arlington_west_121003.htm

Army Spc. Casey Sheehan was killed in Bagdad on April 4th 2004. His younger sister Carly wrote this poem about her brother's death. Carly's poem has been posted at the Veterans for Peace memorial in Santa Barbara, California and is making quite an impact on those who have read it.

Carly's Poem
A Nation Rocked to Sleep
by Carly Sheehan June 16, 2004 by CommonDreams.org

Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
The torrential rains of a mother's weeping will never be done
They call him a hero, you should be glad that he's one, but
Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?

Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
He must be brave because his boy died for another man's lies
The only grief he allows himself are long, deep sighs
Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?

Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
They say that he died so that the flag will continue to wave
But I believe he died because they had oil to save
Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?

Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?
The leaders want to keep you numb so the pain won't be so deep
But if we the people let them continue another mother will weep
Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?

About Me

I am an 83 year old “concerned and informed citizen”, retired Nov. 1999 from the position of Corporate Vice President for Total Quality and Environmental Management of a $5B+, 35,000 person, leading European based multi-national corporation in the field of microelectronics. Born in Canada and naturalized in 1964, I have lived and worked abroad, in Europe and Asia, for 27 of my 44 working years. BScEE 1956 from the University of Manitoba, Canada, and post-graduate study, first in electronics at UCLA and then in Business Administration at Arizona State University. Authored numerous published papers and lectured extensively on Total Quality Management, primarily in Europe.
For the last 13 years my number one preoccupation has been the energy future of the world, but more particularly, out of concern for children and grandchildren, of the USA.
I have been deeply interested in climate change since 1993, having started out as an AGW true believer, becoming a questioner with the release of the IPCC TAR, and then progressing through skeptic to non-believer by 2008.